Sky Eye F13 (1x26650, XM-L U2)
Reviewer's Overall Rating: ★★★☆☆
Reviewer's Mod Host Rating: ★★★★★
Summary:
Battery: | 1x26650 |
Switch: | Tail, Reverse-Clicky |
Modes: | H 100%, M 50%, L 10%, Strobe, SOS, with next-mode memory |
LED Type: | Cree XM-L U2 flux bin, est. 1A or 1B tint bin |
Lens: | Standard Glass |
Tailstands: | Yes |
Price Paid: | Review sample from DX, reg. price was $21.60 |
From: | DX |
Date Ordered: | N/A |
Pros:
- Very good finish, minor ano blemishes on head
- Very good machining, good threads on tailcap and bezel, OK on body to head interface
- Nice pill, good size with a nice star mounting surface
- Good heatsinking on head, great for modding
- Very good reflector, aluminum SMO
- Perfectly centered emitter
- Works with flat-top, raised top, and protected cells
- Excellent mod host
Cons:
- Cheap Direct-Drive driver with next-mode memory
- Emitter centering disk blocks a lot of light
- No thermal paste under emitter star
- Deep bezel blocks some spill
- 'Squishy' feeling to tailcap
Features / Value: ★★★☆☆
Design / Build Quality: ★★★★☆
Battery Life: ★★★★★
Light Output: ★★★☆☆
Overview
DX recently launched some new Sky Eye models and asked me to review one, the Sky Eye F13. This is a familiar looking light, as it is sold under several other names.
The machining and finish on the entire light is very good . In short, the only sharp edge is found on the body-to-head threads. The anodize is nice and even, except for the main bezel which is slightly uneven. One side is shinier than the rest of the light.
Here you can see how the emitter centering ring actually blocks a good portion of light; you can see it as a white ring on the reflector image. I plan to swap this for a generic ring to see if there is an improvement.
The red switch boot seems to stick out too far, resulting in a spongy feeling when pressing the button.
As a 1x26650 light, the handling is nice. It fits in the hand OK. I find that for my larger hands, I am partially gripping the headsink area. The knurling is light and provides a little bit of extra grip.
[In-hand shot to come soon...]
The light comes apart at the tailcap, and between the body and head. It ships with an 18650 adapter and a 3xAAA holder. No wrist strap was provided, just a split ring on the tailcap.
The threads on the tailcap end are nicely cut, smooth, dry, anodized (lockout capable), and have a rather unique shape.
Digging into the tailcap, we find a nice brass retaining ring and the usual items; gasket, switch with a long but heavy spring, switch holder, and a red switch boot.
In here, we find the head components. The pill is removed through the reflector end. The reflector seats onto the star with a plastic emitter centering ring . There are O-rings where they should be. The one between the main bezel and body is a bit thin. The shiny bezel is purely aesthetic and made of plated aluminum (not SS), but still looks OK.
The driver retaining ring is easily removed with needle-nose pliers. The driver is firmly pressed into the pill and makes very good electrical contact. The driver itself is not a very desirable one. It is a simple direct drive (DD) module via limiting resistors (8 x 1R5), and sports the infamous next-mode memory (easily defeated, but one has to ask why these drivers are still used).
On the other end of the pill sits the emitter which is not mechanically mounted to the pill. It is held in place by the reflector, and had no thermal paste at all. A shame really, since the pill provides such a nice smooth thermal interface.
Beamshots
The beam is not bad, with one outer ring that comes from the shiny bezel.
High:
Med:
Low:
Measurements
Dimensions:
- Overall Length: 152mm
- Bezel Diameter: 40.7mm
- Body Diameter: 32.1mm
- Tail Diameter: 33.0mm
- Reflector Inner Diameter: 33.5mm
- Reflector Outer Diameter: 36.8mm
- Reflector Depth: 26.1mm
- Reflector Emitter hole Diameter: 6.9mm
- Lens Diameter: 36.9mm
- Lens Thickness: 1.54mm
- Emitter star diameter: 20mm
- Driver diameter: 21mm
Weights (without battery):
- Overall: 166g
- Head: 102g
- Body Tube: 32g
- Tailcap: 32g
Performance (stock, 4.2V supply, uncalibrated measurement equipment):
- Light Output: ~522 lumens at start, ~450 after 30s
- Beam Intensity: ~12.7kcd
Power Source Options: 1x18650/26650/3xAAA, unprotected or protected cells, flat or raised positive caps.
Switch type: tailcap, reverse-clicky
Modes: High (3.2A), Medium (1.6A), Low (0.41A), Strobe, SOS
Mode Memory: Yes, next-mode
Conclusions
The Sky Eye F13 is an decent light that suffers from a few cut corners. With a better driver, lower profile emitter spacer, and some thermal paste, this becomes a very good light. I plan to do some minor mods to bring this light out to where it should be. I have not fully determined where the loss in output is yet, I expected much higher output.
As shipped, this light gets a 'middle-of-the-road' rating.
As a 26650 mod host, Relic Recommended. Other than the price (a bit high for a host), it should be capable of handling just about any emitter and drive option you want to throw at it.
Thanks for reading! searchID8934